Dan Walters

Voter approval of sales and income taxes and the advent of Democratic supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature have generated new hope among liberals that Proposition 13, the 1978 property tax limit they consider their bête noire, might be changed.

Not surprisingly, hope on the political left means fear on the right, which considers Proposition 13 to be its ideological touchstone.

Two events last week signal that property taxes are back on the political agenda.

First, Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, announced a constitutional amendment to lower voter approval on school district parcel taxes – a specialized form of property tax – from two-thirds to 55 percent.

Other legislative leaders, such as Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, have already endorsed such a change.

It would be a modest change in one rarely used form of property tax, but its fate would signal whether enough Democratic legislators are willing to breach the property tax firewall, and if they are, whether voters would agree.

A change for school taxes would have the best chance of success, since education is the most popular government activity – which is why Brown & Co. used it in the campaign for higher income and sales taxes.

The Dems should raise taxes and fees on all the rich people who make more than me. Everyone who makes more than me is considered rich. I demand the rich to give me what they make since I deserve it. Everyone who drives a car should pay me for taking a bus since that is my right. Plus, it is my right to go to college for free. I demand free education. People who are working should give me 50% of their income so I can take college classes such as Women Studies and Poor People Studies and Walking classes. Maybe I will graduate in a few years but since I am not too bright, I may stay at a community college for 7 or 8 years. It’s my right.

Observer of Facts on
December 3rd, 2012 6:29 pm

Anonymous #1:

I disagree. It’s not your “right” to go to college for free, UNLESS you can prove that you are an illegal alien.

Extra “Dream Act” credit will be given if can prove that you displaced a legal resident of California in your incoming college class.

Unwilling... on
December 4th, 2012 6:46 pm

See, the CTA got the voters bamboozled into thinking prop 30 was legit. Now the slime ball lefties in Sacramento will give the school districts payback via increased property taxes. ANd the electorate just has to bend over and take a smaller salary. The hubris of the left is staggering. Time for border states to come up with special retiree honeypots. Run away retirees, run to any neighboring state and get an automatic raise.